Instant replay coming soon to MMA?
The Nevada State Athletic Commission is going to hold a vote on a few proposed rule changes at a hearing on August 19th. Included in the proposed changes is an allowance to use limited instant replay to help referees rule on whether or not a fight-ending injury occurred from an legal blow or a foul. Here’s how the proposed rule change is worded:
Sec. 7. NAC 467.682 is hereby amended to read as follows:
A referee may view a replay, if available, at the conclusion of a contest or exhibition stopped immediately due to an injury to an unarmed combatant pursuant to NAC 467.718 in order to determine whether the injury in question was caused by a legal blow or a foul.
(a) If the determination is made that the injury was the result of a legal blow, the injured unarmed combatant shall be determined to have lost the contest via technical knockout.
(b) If the determination is made that the injury was the result of a foul, it must be determined whether the foul was intentional or accidental.
(1) If deemed intentional, the outcome of the contest shall be determined in accord with NAC 467.698; or
(2) If deemed accidental, the outcome of the contest shall be determined in accord with NAC 467.702 or 467.7966.
It’s important to note that this rule change would only allow for limited use of instant replay. There won’t be checking of tapouts the referee didn’t see or whether or not a fighter was holding the cage preventing a takedown. Replay would only be used in the event of a disputed fight-ending injury. One such fight where this could have been applied was the Anthony Johnson/Kevin Burns fight where Burns won via TKO even though the ending blow was from an eye poke.
Other proposed changes in the agenda is a change in wording on illegal substances being used to create an advantage during a fight such as vaseline. Here’s how the rule would now be worded if approved:
Sec. 10. NAC 467.7962 is hereby amended to read as follows:
467.7962 The following acts constitute fouls in a contest or exhibition of mixed martial arts:
32. Applying any foreign substance to the hair or body that could result in an advantage.
Currently, the rule adds the word “excessive” which will be taken out if this passes. This will eliminate any possible judgment calls about whether or not there was an excessive amount of illegal substance. Now, any amount is illegal.
One other noteworthy change that will be discussed is five round non-title fights. Right now, five round fights are limited to title fights, but the commission will vote on whether or not promoters can change non-title fights to five rounds without their prior permission. I expect this is something that will pass, but I don’t think it’s something we’ll see implemented any time soon.
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